ts had coverage for inpatient visits and 10 percent and outpatient coverage for mental illnesses. By 1993 only 16 percent had inpatient coverage and 4 percent had outpatient coverage. During this time many families were forced into debt due to hospital and therapy bills. Many families had to tap into college or retirement funds to cover these additional mental health costs. The cost of mental health was not the only driving force behind cuts in mental health benefits. Insurers and businesses believed that mental health coverage was being abused. Companies were paying for employees to see a therapist for everyday problems such as dissatisfaction with their job or marriage. Many employers were not sure if these constitutes as “real” mental health problems and if they should be covered by company insurance. Another problem with mental health coverage was the stigma and misunderstand attached to mental disorders. Many people felt unsympathetic toward those with mental health or substance abuse problems. It was commonly thought that such problems were due to the lifestyles of the individual or their lack of self-control. In 1996, the total health care costs for mental illnesses in the United States total $69.0 billion. However, monetary costs are not the only cost associated with mental illness. The indirect costs can be very substantial also. Indirect costs can include premature death, loss of productivity in the workplace and other aspects of a person’s life. The indirect cost of mental illness is estimated at $78.6 billion in 1990. The growth of spending for mental health has been roughly the same as other health care spending. However, employer and insurance companies have been forced to cut healthcare costs by using cost-containment strategies. Many mental health benefits were cut due to these strategies. This, in turn, created higher out-of-pocket expenses for families that were afflicted with mental...
